Does my son have an awful name?

I can just imagine the following conversation:
Mum " Didn't you say your at college with Ernest Leopoldo?"
DC " Yes, why?"
Mum " Well his mum has started a thread on MN about his name"

It's an awesome name.

I like Ernest/Ernie a lot - the Leopold isn't something i would have chosen, but it's a middle name, so he doesn't need to mention it.

And actually, if he isn't keen on Ernie, Leo is lovely alternative.

Yes - Leo is really, really good - stands out without being so unusual that it's silly (like Tiger

Sorry I think it's fairly dreadful too, why name him after someone long dead?? It's the poor person who has to cope with the name forever after that I feel sorry for.

I'd change my identity card to 'Tim Black' if I were him.

Btw this thread is obviously unbelievably identifying as if he isn't having a hard enough time of it as it is

Does everyone have their middle name on their name card, what happens if you have several names, would they fit on.

*I think he should totally “own” his name.

This is a good lesson in resilience and respect. He needs to own his name and the people who are teasing him will see there is no mileage in it and drop it pretty fast.*

I agree! He's called Ernest, not Poopoohead or Willy. Ernest is a perfectly normal name, I like it.

“Your advice was "Tell him to change his ‘everyday’ name to Leo.". How is that anything other than telling him what he should do?”

True! Guilty as charged.

I retract to “you could suggest that one of his options would be to.”
Or “if he wants to use Leo, support him”

Atalane
I think he should totally “own” his name. This is a good lesson in resilience and respect. He needs to own his name and the people who are teasing him will see there is no mileage in it and drop it pretty fast

Completely agree, love your post.
And as for Ernest/ Ernie, I like it OP!

Ernest is fine but not Leopold but then do people broadcast their middle name, mine is very common for my age group but I doubt if anyone knows or cares what it is.

Sorry but I think both names are awful. Ernest sounds like a really old man and Ernie is even worse and just makes me think of the awful Benny Hill song.

Leo is nice although I only now dogs with the name.

I echo Soupdragon’s ‘Seriously?’.
Is this a wind-up?

bit late to be worrying now?

But why ‘should’ he do anything other than deal with it in the way he most wants to deal with it?

Your advice was "Tell him to change his ‘everyday’ name to Leo.". How is that anything other than telling him what he should do?

I like it. Why would you want him to change his name to a common one? Ignore negative comments.

It’s absolutely dreadful and I completely understand why he has a problem with it. If I was him I would go by Leo and a message to people trying to be clever, you don’t have to live with the daft name, your kids do

“I think he should totally “own” his name.

This is a good lesson in resilience and respect. “

If he likes his name, fine.

But why ‘should’ he do anything other than deal with it in the way he most wants to deal with it? It’s up to him. Making your own choices also builds resilient. My cousin changed a name her parents gave her and that she didn’t like and it was if a weight had been lifted.

The OP can discuss options with her DS, but in the end, he’s already had her choice imposed in him (as we all do with our kids names), and she should now suppprt him whichever way he chooses.

...so I told him that his name matches the period perfectly, and that was some consolation I think

Seriously?

Or even Leo Ernest?

I think it's the Leopold that's harsh.

Could you suggest he 'lose' his ID badge then pay for another to be printed with Ernest Leo on it?

'Ernie' is a bit dated though - reminds me of that old song by Benny Hill about a milkman who drove the fastest milkcart in the west

“He’s really into the Victorian period, and wants to pursue a career in history, so I told him that his name matches the period perfectly, and that was some consolation I think.”

Because everyone wants to be named after Leopold ll of Belgium, right?

I would ask him what he wants to do: take the moral high ground and front it out, laugh it off, say “I know, my parents featured on Crimewatch for this “ or change to Leo.

Actually I think the whole point of middle names is to give the bearer of the name some options as to what they get called.

I think he should totally “own” his name.

This is a good lesson in resilience and respect. He needs to own his name and the people who are teasing him will see there is no mileage in it and drop it pretty fast.

I much prefer Ernest to Ernie

I like it but ultimately the only person whose opinion matters is your ds.
He’s almost an adult. He can change his name if he wants to but he shouldn’t rush into it & he shouldn’t do it because he has a few months to spend wearing it on a badge, with some immature teens. He will probably never have to have his full name around his neck again.
If you acknowledge that he could change it, when he’s older, if he still doesn’t like it, it might help him relax & see these comments for what they are - temporary & irrelevant. His own opinion matters.

Do college students still act so immature even in year 2 They really need to grow up.
I was bullied for my surname A LOT in high school so when I went on to have my children I swore I would just stick to really common names so they wouldn’t have to go through what I did.
But it all sort of came to an end at college as most of us had grown up and had better things to do then make fun of names.
His name is different and cool.